Critical Thinking Quiz (LBT30603)

Critical Thinking (LBT30603)

Course Outline

• Introduction to Critical Thinking
• Recognising Arguments
• Basic Logical Thinking
• Philosophy of Language
• Logical Fallacies I and II
• Analysing Arguments and Assignment 1
• Evaluating Arguments and Truth Claims
• Categorical Logic
• Propositional Logic
• Inductive Reasoning
• Finding, Evaluating, and Using Sources and Assignment 2
• Presentation and Review
• Project and Final Exam

Assignment and Assessment

• Assignment 1: Debate (20%)
• Assignment 2: Article (20%)
• Review (30%)
• Project: Individual (30%)
• Final Exam (30%)

Learning Outcomes

• Classify elements of language in texts that shape thought
• Distinguish common fallacies in reasoning
• Develop arguments and counterarguments
• Analyse the logical structures of arguments

Basic Logical Concepts

Deduction and Induction

• Deduction: starts with general premises or principles and applies them to specific cases to draw a conclusion
• Induction: starts with specific observations and uses them to draw general conclusions

Evaluating Reasoning Processes and Arguments

• The Indicator Word Test: examines indicator words to determine the logical structure of an argument
• The Strict Necessity Test: evaluates the absolute necessity for an outcome
• The Common Pattern Test: identifies recurring patterns or themes in an argument
• The Principle of Charity: assumes rationality and good intentions in interpretation

Common Patterns of Deductive Reasoning

• Hypothetical Syllogism: involves conditional statements and their implications
• Categorical Syllogism: consists of three categorical propositions with quantifiers
• Argument by Elimination: involves systematically ruling out possibilities until only one remains
• Argument Based on Mathematics: relies on mathematical principles and logic
• Argument from Definition: appeals to the meaning or definition of a term

Common Patterns of Inductive Reasoning

• Inductive Generalisation: draws a general conclusion based on specific instances
• Predictive Argument: uses available evidence to make predictions about future events
• Argument from Authority: relies on the expertise of a credible source to support a claim
• Causal Argument: asserts a cause-and-effect relationship between variables
• Statistical Argument: uses statistical data or probabilities to support a claim
• Argument from Analogy: draws parallels between two situations to support a conclusion

Deductive Validity

• A deductively valid argument is one where the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises
• A deductively valid argument does not guarantee the truth of the conclusion, but rather the conclusion follows logically from the premises

Inductive Strength

• Inductive strength is determined by evaluating the strength of the evidence provided in support of the conclusion
• The more relevant and reliable the evidence, the stronger the argument
• The degree of generalization involved in an inductive argument can also affect its strength

Critical Thinking (LBT30603)

Introduction

• Critical thinking involves evaluating arguments and truth claims

Philosophy of Language

The Need for Precision

• Vagueness: statements that lack clear meaning (e.g., "the shop is down the street")
• Overgenerality: statements that make broad generalizations (e.g., "all dogs are friendly")
• Ambiguity: statements with unclear meaning (e.g., "she saw the man with the binoculars")

Precise Definitions

• Stipulative definitions: assign a specific meaning to a term for a particular discussion or context
• Persuasive definitions: formulated to evoke a particular response or attitude towards the thing being defined
• Lexical definitions: rely on the dictionary or common usage of a word to define it
• Precising definitions: narrow down the meaning of a term, particularly when it's vague or ambiguous

Strategies for Defining

• Ostensive definition: involves pointing to or indicating something as a means of defining a term
• Enumerative definition: lists all individual members or instances that fall under the defined term
• Defining by subclass: breaks down a term into its constituent subclasses or categories
• Synonymous definition: equates the term being defined with another term that has the same or very similar meaning
• Genus and difference definition: identifies the broader category (genus) and specific characteristics (difference) of the term being defined

Good Lexical Definitions

• A precise definition is an essential tool for effective communication
• Good definitions should be clear, concise, and unambiguous

Assessment Criteria

• Assignment 1 Debate: 20 marks
• Assignment 2 Article: 20 marks
• Review: 30 marks
• Project Individual: 30 marks
• Final Exam: 30 marks

Critical Thinking (LBT30603)

Introduction

• Critical thinking involves evaluating arguments and truth claims

Philosophy of Language

The Need for Precision

• Vagueness: statements that lack clear meaning (e.g., "the shop is down the street")
• Overgenerality: statements that make broad generalizations (e.g., "all dogs are friendly")
• Ambiguity: statements with unclear meaning (e.g., "she saw the man with the binoculars")

Precise Definitions

• Stipulative definitions: assign a specific meaning to a term for a particular discussion or context
• Persuasive definitions: formulated to evoke a particular response or attitude towards the thing being defined
• Lexical definitions: rely on the dictionary or common usage of a word to define it
• Precising definitions: narrow down the meaning of a term, particularly when it's vague or ambiguous

Strategies for Defining

• Ostensive definition: involves pointing to or indicating something as a means of defining a term
• Enumerative definition: lists all individual members or instances that fall under the defined term
• Defining by subclass: breaks down a term into its constituent subclasses or categories
• Synonymous definition: equates the term being defined with another term that has the same or very similar meaning
• Genus and difference definition: identifies the broader category (genus) and specific characteristics (difference) of the term being defined

Good Lexical Definitions

• A precise definition is an essential tool for effective communication
• Good definitions should be clear, concise, and unambiguous

Assessment Criteria

• Assignment 1 Debate: 20 marks
• Assignment 2 Article: 20 marks
• Review: 30 marks
• Project Individual: 30 marks
• Final Exam: 30 marks